OUTDOORS REPORT: Hardy souls pursue panfish

DOUG PIKE, Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

Published 6:30 am, Friday, January 19, 2007

Lake Conroe

Guide Butch Terpe reported above-normal water levels, about a half-foot, and stained or muddy water overall because of recent rain. Best conditions are on the south end, where jigging spoons produced fair white bass and hybrids at 26-30 feet off main humps and points. Catfish steady at 22-25 feet along creek channels. Surface temperature was 49 degrees and climbing slowly.

Lake Livingston

Kickapoo Marina reported only a few fishermen on the water, which was about 1 foot above normal level and falling slowly. Scattered black bass on jigs, spinnerbaits or jerkbaits in isolated areas of decent water. Trotline catfish good to 35 pounds on live bait in upper creeks. Also some crappie being taken at 10 feet in almost twice as much water over brush in creeks.

Coastal piers and rock groins were understandably quiet Friday as another day of cold, damp weather passed over the coast. Scattered panfish on fresh shrimp for die-hards and tourists, but little else checked throughout the day. Wind was from the northeast at 12-15 mph. Water was sandy and choppy.

West Bay

Water was mostly off-color and quite cool Friday on the heels of a major winter weather system that passed midweek, and fishing was slow. Cold spell stacked fish in Offatt's Bayou and other points of deep-water refuge, and a few trout were taken there on jigs worked slowly along drop-offs. Gradual warming should pull fish back onto deep shell.

Hunting

Duck hunting was steady across much of the region under a relatively mild, but still overcast and damp, morning on the prairies east and west of Houston. Mixed strings of gadwalls, pintails, shovelers and teal being taken from most blinds, with the occasional mallard. Goose hunting was fair in prime feeding fields.

Weather (from Wilkens Weather)

Upper and lower Texas coast

Winds easterly 20 to 30 mph this morning, becoming east to southeast 20 to 30 mph through midday. West shifting north 15 to 20 mph Sunday morning and north to northeast 15 to 20 mph through Sunday night. Seas in deep water 7 to 10 feet this morning, subsiding slightly 6 to 8 feet this afternoon, 5 to 7 feet this evening and 4 to 6 feet Sunday morning. Skies will be mostly cloudy with an increasing probability of showers and thunderstorms through Sunday morning decreasing to light rain and isolated heavier showers on Sunday.